1,578 Ghanaians deported in 1H08

Accra, Dec. 8, GNA - About 1,578 Ghanaians were deported between January 2008 and June 2009, according to available records by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).

It said Ghana had been classified as an origin, transit and destination for irregular migrants, those who cross borders illegally by avoiding immigration officials, those who cross borders in a seemingly legal way using falsified documents and those staying after the expiration of their legal status.

Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) Belinda Adwoa Sika Anim of Migration Information Bureau; announced this when addressing traders at sensitization programme on irregular migration in Accra on Tuesday.

She noted that the problems associated with irregular migration were due to misinformation and lack information.

DSI Anim appealed to all prospective travellers to contact the bureau for the necessary information on their trips and ascertain whether their documents were genuine because undocumented migrants faced extreme forms of exploitation and hostilities in destination countries.

"Migrants working outside migration rules encounter abusive employment relations and poor living conditions in addition to engaging in poorly paid, difficult and sometimes dangerous jobs," she said.

DSI Anim urged prospective travellers within the ECOWAS sub-region to travel with their passports because it was the only prerequisite for free movement since visas were not required.

Assistant Superintendent of Immigration Ibrahim Lang-Hani of Fraud Unit, Kotoka International Airport, advised Ghanaians to contact the GIS for genuine birth certificates and passports and refrain from consulting visa and birth certificate 'contractors'.